Ahmed Al-Jarallah – Editor-in-Chief, the Arab TimesNO country in this world, despite its high security capabilities, is able to completely control its internal situation as incidents continue to happen from time to time.
Whenever a security agency updates its tactics in combating crimes, the criminals also revise their methods; so countries have been striving to prevent crimes in the preparation and planning stages.
Nonetheless, the preemptive strikes against crimes have not reached the level of completely stopping crimes. The United States of America, with all its advancements in security and technology, was unable to prevent the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
This happened despite their painful experience during the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy in 1963. The incident led to a vast overhaul in the security system for protecting leaders, yet the US couldn’t stop the terrorist attack on Sept 11, 2001.
The same incident happened in France and other European countries which suffered from terrorist attacks. Although these countries raised the level of their security alert and took tough security measures, life in their cities and towns continued. Even in areas where there is war, life continues, albeit with slight or moderate variations in terms of performance.
Egypt is not exceptional. In spite of what the country went through on Jan 25, 2011; the security forces managed to stabilize it, especially after Field Marshal Abdul Fattah el-Sisi became the head of Egypt. He fought against the Muslim Brotherhood that instigated chaos in a bid to return to power.
We then ask: Do the security incidents that Egypt witnessed from time to time necessitate media upheaval or there is something more to it?
The incidents, which Egypt witnessed in the past few months, have proven its forces’ ability to maintain stability while the preemptive strikes against terrorists have intensified, in addition to foiling several terrorist operations.
Egypt has been stepping up its security efforts since several years ago, so the downing of the Russian plane did not perturb the life of the country and its people. Why should life be disrupted, considering Egypt is not the one that fell?
The killing of several security officers in Egypt by terrorists does not mean the latter won. It ignited public anger against them, whether the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIL or others, at a time the security agencies continue to develop their tactics in fighting against terrorism.
Indeed, the clearing up of the sit-in organized by the Muslim Brotherhood in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square, where the group carried out its terrorist activities, did not affect life in general.
Since then, Egypt held the global economic summit, opened the new Swiss Canal and the global confidence towards it has increased in the last two years. Therefore, there is no need for media fuss over any incident in a country expected to become the strongest economy in the region by 2020 — in tourism, industry, agriculture and real estate.
In fact, these incidents heightened the persistence and commitment of Egyptians to work and accomplish, because building the nation is the most effective and painful weapon against the terrorists.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
